Philadelphia’s Joel Embiid celebrates after scoring during the second half of their game against the Indiana Pacers, Friday, Nov. 11, 2016, in Philadelphia. Philadelphia won 109-105 in overtime. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Finally, more than two and a half years after playing their last game together as freshmen teammates at Kansas, where they won 25 games and lost in the second round of the NCAA tournament, they again shared the same stage – and had two entirely different paths to get here.

Wiggins was selected No. 1 overall in the 2014 NBA draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers, then traded to Minnesota a few months later. He was the Rookie of the Year in 2014-15 and is leading the league in three-point shooting at 54 percent while averaging 27 points a game.

But you know his story.

“He had a good freshman year when he was at Kansas, and he has been dominating since then,” Embiid said, “so I’m really happy for him.”

Embiid’s path hasn’t been so simple. He was drafted just minutes after Wiggins, going third overall to Philadelphia.

But while Wiggins was making his early mark on the league, piling up stats and accolades over the last two seasons, Embiid was stuck on the sidelines with a foot that cost him his first two years.

Philadelphia coach Brett Brown was asked about the process of keeping Embiid engaged during the last 24 months.

“I don’t even know where to begin,” Brown said.

“It was all over the place from mental to physical to trying to grow him educationally about the game when he wasn’t playing,” said Brown, who has had a rush of young players miss extended time because of injuries in Philadelphia. “I think the main thing was trying to keep his head clean and clear and keep him positive and understanding that there is a light coming, but there were some struggles. He’s highly competitive. He wants to play. He wasn’t playing, and we went through some, I think normal challenges. But to see him come out on this end in a uniform and playing is truly a good thing.”

Embiid is still on a minute restriction and doesn’t play both parts of back to back sets for the 76ers. He sat out Philadelphia’s win over Washington on Wednesday so he was available against Minnesota.

But even in limited minutes, he has shined. Embiid is averaging 18 points, seven rebounds and two blocks a game in just 22 minutes.

“It’s been a long process for him,” Wiggins said, “but he’s back now, he’s healthy and he’s playing great basketball. So I’m excited to see him in person.”

Embiid’s potential is obvious – he’s one of a few young big men who appear capable of doing a multitude of things on the floor. Defensive answers for players like Embiid are few and far between, and he’s just as big of a menace on defense.

“He’s so talented,” Wolves coach Tom Thibodeau said. “You never like to see any player hurt. He’s navigated through that. He can shoot the ball, he can post. There’s not much he can’t do.”

And he’s shown all of it in just seven games. Though he received NBA advice and instruction, Embiid was quick to confirm that he is still a rookie in every way. He’s the early favorite to be this season’s Rookie of the Year, potentially following in Wiggins’ footsteps.

And while Embiid is two years behind Wiggins in the development stages of his career, when he’s on the floor, he’s already equally as dominant.

“Now apply the games and the experiences that Andrew has had that Joel hasn’t,” Brown said, “and so when we watch him tonight at times you’re going to be just sort of awestruck that a man of his size can do the things that we’re seeing and then you’ll see that the game is moving at such a pace and a speed that he hasn’t been used to, he thinks quick in his mind, he’s learning how to react to NBA speed and NBA athlete, but it doesn’t come immediately.

“And I think over time you’re going to see his few games start to grow,” Brown said, “and get him I don’t think that far away from some of the experiences that Andrew has had.”

Jace has covered a slew of sports since he joined the Pioneer Press in May 2015, but his primary duty is covering high schools. Jace enjoys the beat, even though he's been mistaken for a student on multiple occasions.

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